Raisin-grader



(No Model.)

J. PORTEOUS. RAISIN GRADBR.

No. 524,562. Patented Aug. 14, 1894.

c uonms PETERS co moroumo wgsnmnron a c TUNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE.

JAMES PORTEOUS, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

RAl SlN-GRADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,562, dated August14, 1894. Application filed January 10, 1894. Serial No. 496,424. (lipmodel.)

, To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, J AMES PORTEOUS, acitizen of the United States,residing in Fresno, Fresno county, State of California, have invented anImprovement in Raisin-Graders; and I hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the general class of devices for separating orgrading particles of material according to their sizes, and in which avibrating shoe carrying a series of sieyes is employed.

My invention, though applicable to machines for separating variousmaterials, is especially adapted for the grading of raisins,in which itforms a part of a general raisin mill embodying devices for cleaning andstemming, as well as gradin My invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of the several parts, which I shallhereinafter fully describe and specifically claim.

In graders of this'charactenwherein screens are mounted in a vibratingshoe, said screens have heretofore, as far as I am aware, been connectedfixedly with the shoe, and have had no other movement than that of theshoe itself.

The object of my invention is,by imparting an independent movement tothe screen or screens, accompanied by a jar or bump to effect additionalagitation or impulse of the material which, especially in the grading ofraisins, is of great advantage, in that it prevents the clogging of theperforations or meshes of the screens, a tendency which raisins, onaccount of their gummy character, invariably have.

Referring to the accompanying drawings foramore complete explanation ofmy invention,- -Figure 1 is a perspective view of a raisin mill showingmy grader. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the shoe andscreens. Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the loose connection betweenthe screen and shoe.

A represents generally the frame of what may be called a raisin mill,the parts of which need not be particularly described other than thosereferring to the grading portion. In the lower portion of this frame ismounted the inclined shoe B. This is pivotally suspended by means oflinks 0, one or more on each side. These may be vertical, but where theraisins are particularly gummy and require to be shaken more vigorously,they are set at an inclination whereby they impart a movement to theshoe which is the result of a combined vertical and horizontal motionwhich gives a greater shake to the shoe and increased jar to the loosescreen thereon. The suspending links are also adjustable, bothhorizontally and vertically, whereby the resultant motion may be variedas required.

This adjustability is effected by means of the upper vertical series ofholes 0, and the lower horizontal series of holes 0' in whichthe ends ofthe links are pivotally mounted. The upper or head end of this shoe maybe suspended from links such as C, but I have shown it as mounted uponeccentrics d on a drive shaft D, by the rotation of which, in connectionwith the suspending links, the shoe is given a peculiar combinedvertical and longitudinal movement, which may be termed ashake orvibration. In this shoe is carried a screen E, or as I have here shown,a vertical series of screens, having different perforations or meshes toefiect the grading of the raisins into different sizes.

I have found by experience that the agitation imparted to the raisins bythe mere shaking of the shoo,at a proper rate of speed, is

not sufficient to keep the meshes or perforations of the screens free,and there is a tendency, on account of the gummy character of theraisins, to clog the screens. To remedy this diffiulty I have notconnected the screen or screens rigidly with the shoe. The former mayhave, therefore, a sliding movement in the shoe in the direction oftheir length, and may also have an up and down movement, bothindependently of the shoe, said movements being occasioned by thecontinuance of the movements of the screens at the ends of the stroke ofthe shoe. The inclined links suspending the shoe give, by theiradjustments, more or less jar to the screens set loosely upon it. Thisadditional movement or movements of the screens gives such in? creasedagitation or sharp impulse to the material that the tendency to clog orgum up is overcome, for the sharp blow dislodges a raisin fast in ahole, either by making it fall through orby passing it on over thescreen. Thismovement is accompanied by a jar or bump which may beeffected in any suitable manner as by providing suitable stops for theends of thescreens, and it is also ettected by the drop of the. screenonthe shoe in its up I have found the best and down movement.construction,however, to be that here shown, in which there are securedto the inner surface of the sides of the shoe, at its headfend,"

thebrackets F, beyond which are the guides f on "which the screens rest.

Under the sides of the screens, at their head ends, are the wearingplates H which lie freely upon top of the brackets F. Thesev plates arerigidly bolted and secured to the screens. ..Rods Ipass down through theextremities of theseplates and of. the brackets, and.the holes throughwhich they (pass are sufficiently. largerthan therods to give them afree lateral playtherein.

. ,fore,,.that :when the shoe is vibrated, the screens in accompanyingit willhave also the ,additional movements of. their own, both up anddown, and in sliding on their bearings in 1 the shoe to the extent ofthe lateral play of the rods I, and these movements Will be ac-.companiedby the jar orbump occasionedby the bringing up of the rods andtheir limitaand also. by the drop of the screen on theshoe.

andimpulse, jar or bump are givento the ma-,

tion in-the holes in which they are seated,

Thus the increased or supplemental agitation terial whereby the resultof, avoiding theologiging of the screens is effected.

-Having thus describ d my invention, what It follows, thereto move invertical planes whereby said screen may have inaddition to themovementof the shoe an independent vertical movement'of its own, substantiallyas herein described.

2. In a grader or separator, and in combination with a vibrating shoe, ascreen supported loosely upon said shoe, having one end secured to theshoe and the opposite end unconnected whereby it may have in addition tothe movement of the shoe an independent movement of its own in verticalplanes, and

means for limiting said-independent move- ..ment ofthetscreen' toproduce a jar or bump,

substantially as herein described.

3. In a grader or separator, the.v combination of a vibratingshoe, ascreen supported loosely thereon with its lower end free and unconnectedso that it may have, in addition to its movement with theshoe, anindependent movement of its own in vertical planes, and a rod looselyconnecting the upperend of the screen to the sh0e, vvhereby the screenis limited inits independent movement and is subjected tea jar or bump.,7 p

4:. In a grader or separatonthe vibrating shoe having the guides on itsinner side, and the brackets at its head end, in combination with ascreen mounted loosely upon said guides, and having plates secured toits under side and resting freely on the brackets of the shoe, and rodsseated loosely in .holes in the extremities of the plates and brackets,and connecting the head end of the screen to the shoe, said screenhavingits opposite end free and unconnected, substantially as hereindescribed.

In Witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand.

JAMES PORTEOUS. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, H. F. ASCHECK.

